Organomercury compounds : XIX. The preparation of pentafluorophenylmercurials by mercuration under basic conditions

Mercuration of pentafluorobenzene under basic conditions in aqueous tertbutanol by tetrabromomercurate(II) ions, phenylmercuric chloride, and p-tolylmercuric chloride yields bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury, (pentafluorophenyl)-phenylmercury, and (pentafluorophenyl)-p-tolymercury respectively, in a single simple preparative step. Cleavage of bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury with iodide or bromide ions in alcohols or aqueous alcohols gives pentafluorobenzene, tetrahalogenomercurate(II) ions, and base. Under alkaline conditions, tetrahalogenomercurate(II) ions are reduced to mercury by ethanol or methanol. Decomposition of (pentafluorophenyl)phenylmercury by iodide ions has also been studied.